Orange-ish & A Tutorial (of sorts)

I don't own much orange (it's not a good color on me), so this coral-y/orange-y sweater is the closest to orange that I own (I know - these pictures make it look pink-ish, just trust me!). But I wanted to share so I could participate in this link up with Walking in Memphis in Heels, The Fashion Canvas, and Vodka Infused Lemonade for their weekly Trend Spin Link Up. The theme this week is black and orange (for Halloween, obvi). So, please excuse my dark and grainy pictures - the sun goes down so early (curse you, shorter days!)! But please appreciate my enthusiasm for blogging/Halloween/link-ups :) 

A for effort?

.......................................

Let's switch gears. Majorly.

If you have a scarf that you think would be just divine as an infinity scarf, look below for a few simple (REALLY simple) steps to make that happen. 

Place a rubber band around both ends of the scarf, so you have a large loop, and a little "tuft" for the ends.

Place looped scarf around your neck. I put the "tuft" at the nape of my neck.

Now make a figure-eight with your scarf, by crossing one side over the other.

Flip up the bottom of the eight, and place it around your neck. 

You should have 2 loops of scarf around your neck.

Fluff your hair. 

Adjust your scarf. 

Give yourself a pat on the back. Or a thumbs-up.

You have now made an infinite scarf a (temporary) infinity scarf! Ta da! 

I've found that the "tuft" is smaller (and thus, more manageable) when you use a thinner scarf. However, it's not impossible with a thick scarf - I would recommend wearing your hair down so you can cover up the "tuft." Or, become an expert at scarf arranging so you can cover it up with the 2nd loop :)

Ever tried this? I do it all the time! It's just a different way of tying a scarf. Tell me how you stretch your existing closet and wear things in a new way.

sweater: Target

shirt: WalMart

 (temporary infinity) scarf: thrifted

jeans: Trends

Boots: Kmart

Just Following the Trends, Y'all!

wearing my pups on my clothes. it's cool, right?

5 pointed crown - another ZTA symbol. told ya I sneak 'em in there

Does wearing a bulldog shirt make me look like an over-excited soccer mom? If so, too bad, so sad. 

I love reppin' my breed of pups - they're just so cute! 

And sweet! 

And wrinkly! 

And loud. 

They're very loud. Loud breathers, loud snorers, and loud going up the stairs. 

You would NOT believe how loud they are.

I have a voice memo recorded on my phone of both of them breathing, if you're interested ;)

I am digging the animal-on-the-shirt/sweater trend. I've seen a lot that I would love to take home and make part of my closet, but this is the only one I've been able to pull the trigger on. But that's ok, it's got a pretty special animal on it. 

Now, to find a shirt with TWO bulldogs on it - one that's mostly white with his tongue sticking out, 

and the other brown & white...

shirt: J CREW Factory

sweater: Ann Taylor

jeans: Trends

shoes: Kohl's

Cream & a Pash

I found this little gem of a flowy top at Plato's Closet a few weeks ago with some store credit that I had (it's originally from Old Navy). I paired it with this beautiful pashmina from my sweet sister-in-law. She gave each of the bridesmaids in her wedding this scarf so we would have another layer to throw over our bridesmaid dresses at their wedding, in case we got cold. We had buttercup yellow dresses that looked great with these pashminas as a "wrap." If you're interested, I'm sure I could scrounge up some pictures from their big day ;) I don't remember using my pashmina as a wrap, since I spent most of my time on the dance floor, of course.

Lately though, I've been wearing this as a scarf, and I have to stop myself from wearing it every day - it goes with almost everything! I just knew it would go nicely with the color of this top, since it's not WHITE white, it's more cream. Oh, and my sassy leopard flats that I've had for ages completed this flowy-boho-young-professional-steps-into-fall look. 

Hope you're having a great Sunday - look for a recap about my race soon!

top: Old Navy via Plato's Closet

scarf: gift from my favorite sis-in-law

jeans: GAP

shoes: Kohl's

Yesterday

Before I tell you about our epic day yesterday, I have to wish my Dad a happy birthday. 

**************

Happy Birthday to the best Dad in all the land! Have a great time with your bestie in the land of Jimmy Buffett, and enjoy your dives with my sweet mama! (My parents are with my Dad's BFF and his wife on a scuba diving trip. Offspring were not invited - bogus)

**************

Now, onto what us landlocked kids did in Colorado...

Yesterday we did some serious adventuring. Don't believe me? Check out some pics on InstaGram. First, I must tell you that the theme of yesterday was my husband's birthday/our dating anniversary/we had several gift cards to use.

#giftcardsarethebest

First, we went to Cabela's. Dustin had a gift card from his parents for his birthday (which is tomorrow) and couldn't wait to use it. TWO Cabela's locations opened in Colorado this summer, and so far, we've only been to one. I'm sure there will be many trips to both locations in the future...

So, off to epicenter of hunting & fishing we went. The place is INSANE. And it smelt so good - there's a little cafe inside that was selling roasted almonds (my mouth watered as soon as we walked in). There were SO many people, and SO much stuff to look at. First, we did a lap around the store to do a little recon, with me asking: 

"What's this?" 

"How does this work?" 

"Why would you need this?" 

"Do you have this?"

and Dustin patiently answering my questions. I think he was a bit surprised to see me so excited about Cabela's. I don't hunt or fish, but I can appreciate it in others - namely the men in my life, especially when they get something that can stock the freezer for a long time. 

the entrance

hanging with a moose - I don't think I fit in

posing with some wildlife in the middle of the store

After our lap around the store, we went back to the hunting/gun section, and spent a good 20 minutes in this one little area, while D decided between this kind or that kind of rifle stick. Oh, and a strap of some sorts. I have no idea how it all works together, but I do know that new "toys" make my husband happy, and since his birthday is Monday, and work has been very draining, and our dating anniversary was Friday, I was in the business of making sure my husband was happy. Oh, and we had some delicious vanilla kettle corn in the parking lot.

Then, we headed to Little Man Ice Cream in Denver. A friend of ours is the manager, and if not for him, we wouldn't know about some of the best ice cream this world has to offer. The building is a milk jug, and it's in the middle of this super cute neighborhood, right off the interstate. This month was "Sweet & Salty September" at Little Man, so most of their HOMEMADE flavors reflected that. I chose Salted Peanut Butter Cup (YUM), and Dustin chose Salted Maple Bacon (also, YUM) - real bits of bacon in there, no joke.

the milk jug building - there's always a HUGE line for this place

don't worry, one of those cones was mine ;)

After ice cream, we headed to a golf course. Birthday Boy had a gift certificate from a work-sponsored golf tournament there this summer. He had the longest drive in the tournament, so he won a gift certificate to the pro shop. And while at this tournament, he lost his sand wedge. So he was in search of a new one. He found one, and of course, it came home with us ;)

And then, we went INDOOR SKY DIVING! Like I mentioned yesterday, we had a gift certificate from my in-laws from our 1st wedding anniversary in June. We each had 3 minutes in the wind tunnel with an instructor. 

SO. MUCH. FUN. 

If you ever get the opportunity to try it, I would highly recommend it. Our instructors were very knowledgeable, fun, and made sure we didn't make complete idiots of ourselves in the tunnel. Sky diving looks really easy (just hanging/falling), but it actually requires a lot of balance and positioning your body just so. We bought the video of our adventure, and since both of us were participating, I unfortunately don't have any photos to share. If I can find a way to get a freeze frame from our video, I will definitely post it. Or, if you REALLY wanna see the whole video, shoot me an email and I'll send it your way ;) But really, you should definitely try it sometime. I cannot recommend this activity, or Sky Venture Colorado enough. We will definitely be back.

bullie & hippo salt & pepper shakers at Pottery Barn. love.

Our last stop of the day was dinner at The Cheesecake Factory (there was a long wait for our table, so we did some browsing in the surrounding shopping center [pics above]). Long story short, we had a gift card from our wedding we wanted to use, so we ate lots of delicious food, and made sure we had plenty of leftovers for today :) I don't think this place has anything on the menu that isn't delicious. For the most important part (dessert. obviously.), D ordered the Toasted Marshmallow S'mores Galore™ and I had the Godiva® Chocolate Cheesecake. 

When we were done with dinner, we headed back home to our sweet pups, tried to watch a movie and fell asleep early - all day adventuring can really take it out of you. All in all, it was a great day, and I loved being able to spend so much time with my husband/high school sweetheart/birthday boy/best friend/hunting master/fellow ice cream enthusiast/golfer/sky diving partner/and adventure pal. 

Oh, and what I wore:

peplum top: Daisy Fuentes via Kohl's

jeans: GAP

shoes: KMart

purse: Kohl's

Two-fer

I wore the above combination to work, and then the below to run some errands in the evening, so I thought I'd share them both with you. I'm still hanging onto summer with my shorts & neon sandals, but stepping into fall with the flannel. I'm really digging the print and fit of this shirt - it's a feminine take on a masculine classic. 

And the colors! 

Navy blue! Bright green! Neon!

*be still my heart*

It was starting to get a bit chilly in the evening, so pants and close-toed shoes it was. The 

nude & "rose-gold" flats are from Target, and the purse is from Kohl's. Do you remember the brand 

Mudd®? Those were the only brand of jeans I wanted to wear in middle school, and into high school. However, I grew out of them, and went in search of other (more expensive) jeans. So, imagine my surprise when I saw this brown & neon pink purse (ON THE CLEARANCE RACK!) 

and it was by Mudd®. Obviously, it came home with me. 

And I've been receiving compliments left & right, ever since. 

Do former favorite brands ever jump out & surprise you? This seems to be happening to me a lot lately, and in the best way possible!

shirt: Old Navy

shorts: Old Navy

sandals: Target

jeans: Trends

flats: Target

purse: Mudd® via Kohl's

linking up over here today :)

Mr. Picks Mondays: Python Print

remember that part in Dodgeball where Ben Stiller's team from Globo Gym (the COBRAS) does their little team cheer?
*pat*pat*HISSSSS*
that's what I was doing here, you know,  since my shirt has a snake print. get it?

senior pictures, anyone?

Confession time: I went shopping this weekend...the sun was finally out, aaand I'd done all my chores, aaand my husband was napping, aaand the dogs had been walked & fed, aaand I had Old Navy Super Cash. So, off to Old Navy I went with my friend, Becca (hey girl heyyyy!). And boy, oh, boy, did I find some goodies! I got this python print shirt, some pants, and a couple more shirts that I'm sure you will be seeing sooooooon!

When my Mr. was picking out my outfit last night, I reminded him that I had some new goodies he could choose from, so, he chose this'a one. And I gotta admit, the more I see this shirt, the more I like it! Don't think I've ever had anything with snake print before...and since this shirt is printed chiffon, I stayed cool with the changing temps all day. It started out in the 50s, then by this afternoon hit the high 70s. But a hot high 70s. And humid. Blegh. With all this rain, there's so much humidity in the air. OK, comparatively, it's still dry in Colorado. But when you're used to dryness, and then you're blasted with humidity, it's not pleasant. Not pleasant in a "my face breaks out and my hair frizzes" way. Too much?

Anywayyyys, hope you had a great Monday and your week is off to fantastic start! And if it's not, well, only a few more days til Friday ;)

shirt: Old Navy

jeans: Gap Outlet

sandals: Target

Mr. Picks Mondays: Bright Stripes

Here's another bright shirt on a Monday - I think he's into bright colors for spring, don't you?

 

bracelet my mama got me

"It's what's on the inside that counts"

WHY can't I keep that in mind more often?!

I'm not sure that horizontal stripes are doing me any favors lately (too much snacking), BUT, my half marathon is this weekend. I can hear you asking: "Why haven't you been training consistently for the last 3 months?" That, my friends, is a great question. 

Seriously though, I get pretty bad blisters on my feet: on the balls of my feet, my heels, the sides of my feet, even between my toes. It's no fun to run when your feet are killing you. Couple that with the fact that I'm really slow (I mean REALLY. Somehow I walk faster than I run), and I always wind up really sore after a run. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten my rear in gear like I should have.

My dad is doing this half marathon with me, and he's been training, so we all know who will be feeling better after running 13.1 miles. Not to worry: I've scheduled a massage for the day after, and a mani/pedi might be in my future, too. 

I'll keep you posted on how it goes. One way or another - walking, crawling, running, handsprings, or on piggyback, I will finish those 13.1 miles! And I've set a pretty generous window as a goal for myself ;)

Top: WalMart

Jeans: Gap

Sandals: via Trends

Necklace: Kohls

Watch: a gift from our honeymoon

Bracelet: gift from my sweet mama